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Waddell escaped late Thursday when police he overpowered a deputy jailer on the way back from the hospital.

Jailer Allen Shrewsberry confirmed an internal investigation is now underway following the incident and the deputy jailer involved is 62 years old.

Tips poured in about Waddell for much of the day Friday, but police still can't find him.

"I have a 2-year-old, so you never know what can happen," said resident Alicia Basham.

In Breckinridge County, there is a heightened sense of awareness.

Many people, like Basham, are concerned about Waddell's criminal past, which includes rape, burglary and assault.

"It's a small town, so it's dangerous to have someone like that out around here," said Basham.

Police said Waddell made his escape when he overpowered the deputy jailer outside of the Breckinridge Memorial Hospital Thursday night after Waddell was treated for chest pains.

"The deputy jailer took him to the van to put him back in there, and he attempted to open the door, and at that time, Robert Waddell stuck something sharp in his side and demanded that he give him the handcuff keys and the keys to the van," said Breckinridge County Sheriff Todd Pate.

Pate said Waddell took the deputy's boots and radio, and made him get in the back of the van.

That's when police said Waddell sped off, ending up eight miles south of Hardinsburg, where he let the deputy out.

By Friday morning, the van had been found off Highway 629, and sightings of Waddell were coming in, too.

Now, 24 hours after his disappearance, the search is still on.

It's one people are hoping ends peacefully and soon.

"It's dangerous for anybody. It really is dangerous, and I wouldn't want to run into him," said resident Rita Thomas.

Breckinridge County deputy jailers don't carry weapons.

It's part of a policy Shrewsbury said has been in place since the facility opened, and he said that policy isn't going to change because of what happened.